Spring contact for electric connections



April 20, 1943. s. P. BIRD 2,317,023

SPRINQ CONT ACT FOR ELECTRIC CONNECTIONS Filed Dec. 22, 1941 INVENTOR STANLEY P 5M0 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 20, 1943 SPRING CONTACT FOR ELECTRIC CONNECTIONS Stanley P. Bird, Verona, N. J assignor to Breeze Corporations, Inc., Newark, N. J.

Application December 22, 1941, Serial No. 424,032

4 Claims.

This invention relates to connectors for cables and like electric conductors during their installation, changes and repairs.

The construction of a joint in a cable, in order to be reliable, should include the use of the best attainable conductive material and, in order to afford a maximum of convenience, be of a nature susceptible of instant junction or separation, wholly without the requirement of special appliances or tools.

It is found occasionally necessary to separate such cables, in which case, if a single strand of conducting wire is encased, a single connector is required; if a plurality of separate conductors are contained in the cable, obviously the same number of connectors are required.

Usually such points of separation are predetermined and involve the use of special devices characterized often by clumsy, space taking, expensive contrivances, slow to operate and requiring skilled workmen.

With this matter in mind it is an object of the invention to provide a connector that fulfills the foregoing functions in a completely adequate manner.

A further feature is in the provision of a connector having the utmost simplicity in construction, its parts being coupled by merely pressing one element into another, and released by exerting a contrary force, all manually performed.

Another purpose is to produce an electric coupling in which current is conducted between the two main elements by a novel and practical interposition of one or more conductor springs of polygonal cross section, adapted to grippingly engage the elements when united and retain them safely against inadvertent separation or injury from contacting objects.

These advantageous objects are accomplished by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of few and simple parts, hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting a cardinal component of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the center of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the several elements as separated;

Figure 4 is a partial side, partial sectional view showing a modification in construction;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates a cylindrical block having at one end an extending sleeve ll, suited to receive a conductor, such as a cable, and may be partially cut across on one side, as at ill, for convenience in attaching the conductor stub end, as by solder.

The block IO has an axial bore 13 having a counterbore constituting a socket M in its outer position, terminating in an internal shoulder IS.

A shorter cylindrical block I6 is provided with a similar sleeve ll, having a recess 18, and adapted to be engaged by the other end of a conductor. Opposite the sleeve is a cylindrical plug 19 of slightly lesser diameter than the bore 13, and of a length to extend therein.

A connector spring, preferably formed in two sections 20-40, is produced from sheet stock to present a series of fiat surfaces 2|, six being shown, having angular-corners 22, which, when entered in the socket Hi,- constitute in effect a tubular conductor spring of polygonal cross section.

The angular longitudinal corners 22 of the spring forcibly impinge against the inner surface of the socket l4, and upon entering the plug [9 into the spring, the inner surfaces of the flats 2| bear tightly upon the plug, forming an effective electrical contact.

In Figure 4 themodification consists in forming a socket member 23 with an inreaching annular flange 24 at its outer end to prevent the springs from possible extraction.

The opposite, outer end of the socket is provided with screw threads 25 to engage corresponding threads on the solid end 26 of a sleeve 21. The springs and plug elements are made in the manner previously described.

It will be understood that all the several elements are made of highly conductive material and may preferably be supplied with a silver coating.

Although the improvements have been described with considerahle detail it is not desired to be limited thereby, since changes and minor modifications may be made without departure from the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electrical connector comprising a con-- ductive socket and a conductive plug, each having means for engagement with the end of a conductor, and semi-tubular conductive springs of polygonal cross section interposed between said socket and plug to effect electric transmission therebetween when in engagement.

2. An electrical connector comprising a conductive socket and a conductive plug, each having means for engagement at one end with the end of a conductor, a pair of opposed detached springs set in said socket, said springs being shaped to present a plurality of fiat tangential faces adapted to impinge upon said plug when entered in the socket, and angled longitudinal corner edges to impact against the interior wall of the socket upon the entry of said plug therein.

3. An electrical connector comprising a cylindrical conductive socket and a cylindrical conductive plug, each having means for engagement at one end with the end of a conductor, a pair of detached opposed springs set in said socket, said springs being shaped to present two or more flat faces each adapted to impinge tangentially upon said plug when entered in the socket, and angled longitudinal corner edges to impact against the interior wall of the socket upon the entry of said plug therein, whereby said plug is forcibly bound substantially its entire length by the opposed fiat inner faces of said springs, and means abutting the ends of said springs within said socket to prevent lineal movement of the springs.

4. An electrical connector comprising two conductive plugs, each having means for engagement with the end of a conductor, a sleeve threadedly connected to one of said plugs, said sleeve having an inreaching annular shoulder at its outer end,

' a pair of detached complementary springs disposed within said sleeve, said springs being shaped longitudinally at angles to present tangential facets and angular corners, said facets abutting the other of said plugs when entered, and said corners thrust outwardly t0 forcibly impinge upon the interior of said sleeve.

STANLEY P. BH'ZD. 

